The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1887-10-08

like fury, and, snatching up IN axe that
stood behind the door, rushed towards me,
welding the weapon, while her eyes flashed
and her lips quivered.
"Don't como between me an me re-
vinger' she cried. "D'ye know who led me
husband into crime, an falsely swore him
to the gallows, who broke mo heart on
ruined me lifei I'll tell ye-foxy Pad Ryan,
An whin have his son here in me power,
who'll say mustn't have blood for bloodi
Il followed mo darlin' Dan TO Cork Jail, an
saw him brought out tied with ropes, an
thin they strangled him to DEATH An
whin come home, found me baby dead
from cowld an hunger; an knelt down
an prayed that the curse Of oil the saints
might astind the villin who brought the
desolation on me house. An here's his
son, an I'll folly him to the gallows toop
Exhausted by passion, she dropped into
n chair, still holding the axe, and looking
threateningly on the boy, who had crept
back to bed, and now lay gazing in terror
at the woman. We heard voices outside,
and all three turned towards the window.
The snow had ceased, tho air was clear,
and the sun shone coldly on the white
robed bills, while an icy wind moaned
through the glcn. "My fatherl' cried the
boy joyfully.
A group Of men were crouched on q hill
lock outside the house, and after glancing
down the slope, they simultaneously lev
eled their guns and fired. With one ex-
ception, they then turned and ran. He
who remained was q tall, sinewy man,
with a slouched hat and long gray over
al yy1 ,irh ha1t faufnuaI
His hair and whisl1ers were reddish, and
he had a yellow, wrinkled, hnwk.like face,
that was singularly repulsive. He stayed
to watch the effect Of his shot, then spring
ing to his feet, uttered q shrill whoop,
brandished his gun, and was about to fol-
low his comrades, when the whistle OF
bullets passed the cottage, and after bound
ing upward, the man fell on his back in the
snow, and lay motionless, his arms out
stretched.
"My hostess, her face pressed against the
window, looked on breathlessly; and when
the man fell, she dropped on her knees, and
with uplifted hands, cried, in an agitated
voice: "God pardon me, for poor wicked
crayture, who forgot that her cause was in
His hands when sought the life of an in
nocent gossoon!' !' She staggered to the bed,
and throwing herself across the boys feet,
sobbed Historically. He, divided between
sorrow for his father and anxiety for him.
self, after one sad wall Of Daddy daddyw
sat pale and trembling.
The wind brought to us the dull sound Of
horses hoofs, and troop Of lancers came
trotting up the glen by twos. the sunlight
glancing from the points Of their spears.
Behind, at slower pace, two or three COM
panies of infantry climbed the rugged path.
rbo ho1a xv,oo a IN
space before the door, and an officer, attend
ed by couple of soldiers, entered
The poor woman was too agitated to an
swer his inquiries, and Undertook to satisf fy
him about the passage of the rebels and my
own identity.
"Who is this young man, madamW he
asked, referring to the boy, who, on finding
himself observed, shrank back in the bed
''Me son, capten-me only boy, yer honor.
Don't be afraid, Patsy, darlin'; the ham,
some gintleman won't do any thin to ye."
sis the poor lad ill" the officer asked
sympathetically.
'No, sir; no, yer honor; but the boys
the Faynians, 1 mane, sir-frightened him,
an runnin' home, he turned his ankle be-.
nathe him. That's all, capten, SIR"
The soldiers departed, and soon followed,
leaving the boy bemoaning the loss of his
only relative, whose body the troops car
ried with them, while the woman tried to
console him.
arrived in London without further Incl
dent.
Business took me again into that neigh
borhood some years afterwards, and as the
weather was fine, made an ex cursion to
the scene of the adventure have related.
The place was easily found, and l was
agreeably surprised by the changes that
had taken place. Patsy Ryan was still
with the widow, whose desire for ven-
geance had collapsed on the death of the
boys father. He was married, and had
three sturdy children, who called the old
lady "grannie." The little cottage was re-
placed by a substantial house; the rugged
waste that formerly ran downward from
the door, was now cultivated and fenced in
with the stones that Patsy dug from his
land; a couple Of cows grazed lower down;
and pigs, ducks and geese roamed about at
will.
Nothing could exceed the tenderness
shown by the old lady and her adopted sor
towards one another; and as sat before
the hearth. surrounded by the family,
could not help contrasting the comfort and
peace that now reigned there, with the
poverty, the misery, the fierce passion.
that i saw on my former visit.-Chamber'.
Journal.